Pokemon Shield

 Switch
User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 3465 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,154 out of 3465
  2. Mixed: 587 out of 3465
  3. Negative: 1,724 out of 3465
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  1. Danikyo-Inverso
    May 13, 2023
    10
    De lo mejor en toda la franquicia, y aunque no es tan bueno como la gloriosa 7ma generación, este juego supone un gran paso adelante en el aspecto gráfico y competitivo, con mas de 400 pokémon capturables, uno esta servido en cuanto a contenido se refiere, y aunque muchos digan lo contrario, las animaciones son de lo mejor en la saga
    Artísticamente hermoso.
  2. ThankUGamefreak
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    This is the most important review you will ever read on metacritic. These are the best games ever made. The criticisms are unfounded and dumbfounded. Why are you complaining about only having 400 pokemon to play as? Other RPGs like final fantasy and xenoblade and persona typically only have 7ish characters to play as. Yet people are upset about 400? Bad argument. Bad graphics? That's notThis is the most important review you will ever read on metacritic. These are the best games ever made. The criticisms are unfounded and dumbfounded. Why are you complaining about only having 400 pokemon to play as? Other RPGs like final fantasy and xenoblade and persona typically only have 7ish characters to play as. Yet people are upset about 400? Bad argument. Bad graphics? That's not true. These games are cartoony beautiful appealing graphics. They'retimeless. I think the Thanos snap of pokemon is the best thing to happen to the series. It exposes the fake fans and shows who really cares about pokemon. If you dislike these games then you need to purchase them again and try again. And if you don'tbuy them then dont talk. .… Expand
  3. Shaposa
    Nov 28, 2019
    10
    These games are absolutely fantastic. The Dynamax/Gigantamax mechanics are fun, the OST is fantastic, the characters are memorable and the visuals are stunning! Now. There are a few things keeping this game from a 10. There's a tiny bit of lag in some areas. Marnie doesn't feel developed enough. And the online can be **** sometimes (That's just because Nintendo Switch Online is hotThese games are absolutely fantastic. The Dynamax/Gigantamax mechanics are fun, the OST is fantastic, the characters are memorable and the visuals are stunning! Now. There are a few things keeping this game from a 10. There's a tiny bit of lag in some areas. Marnie doesn't feel developed enough. And the online can be **** sometimes (That's just because Nintendo Switch Online is hot garbage.). But there's a reason I'm giving it a 10 instead of the 9. To counteract the review bombing that this game is receiving.… Expand
  4. TheTrueFacts
    Nov 29, 2019
    10
    I wrote this whole big long reason for why I love Pokémon Sword and Shield over on Pokémon Sword but since I don’t want to waste another hour of my life I’ll summarize it. I like the story, characters, character development, Pokémon in it, and graphics.
  5. sheep455246
    Jul 13, 2020
    10
    After seeing the evolution of other Nintendo franchises in the Switch like "Mario Odyssey" and "Breath of the Wild", it is just lame to see Pokemon receive little to no evolution at all, it is a 3DS game with a Switch price tag.
  6. EllEll
    Jul 10, 2020
    10
    Great game for Pokémon fans I think the reason why the graphics are not so good is because they wanted to focus on the gameplay!!! Worth your time.
  7. MrGoombs
    Aug 21, 2020
    10
    it’s overhated it’s not a bad game or a good game but it’s still fun and that’s what matters i wouldn’t give it a 10/10 but i am to counteract the trolls in reality i’d give it a 8/10
  8. MagicMikey
    Aug 23, 2020
    10
    The absence of the National Dex in my opinion means nothing to me. Gen 3 didn't bother me when I couldn't trade up my boys then. The New Pokemon added in my opinion are some of the best in series. Most JRPG games let you have like 4-8 characters 400 is more than enough for me. The only problem I had with the game was the curry dex. Sword/Shield are leagues better than X/Y and Sun/MoonThe absence of the National Dex in my opinion means nothing to me. Gen 3 didn't bother me when I couldn't trade up my boys then. The New Pokemon added in my opinion are some of the best in series. Most JRPG games let you have like 4-8 characters 400 is more than enough for me. The only problem I had with the game was the curry dex. Sword/Shield are leagues better than X/Y and Sun/Moon and i'm very happy with gyms being back, the quality of life buffs when it come to breeding/training competitive Pokemon and now there’s no need to backtrack half across the world to heal your entire team… Expand
  9. 1t2e3w
    Nov 26, 2019
    10
    Honestly this is the most fun I’ve had playing a Pokémon game in a long time.
  10. Smars_gamer
    Jun 10, 2020
    10
    Muy buen juego, quizas sin el contenido completo usual, pero de igual manera causando la misma ganas de jugarlo horas y horas
  11. Henlol
    Jun 22, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Game wasn't rate with the real point of view that the Game needed , Pokémon sw will be a Master piece in 5 years… Expand
  12. vuthom
    Jun 24, 2020
    10
    the new starters are awesome and best designs ever! gameplay has been enhanced so you have both easy to get into and deepest gameplay from any RPG you can find! must buy
  13. Leandroizoton
    Jun 25, 2020
    10
    Honestly, I don’t understand the Pokémon fandom sometimes. Pokémon Sword and Shield only flaw is a short history, that they are completing with two DLC costing half the price of a game, so even without the second half, is already the best Pokémon Game for me.
    The soundtrack is delicious. The Wild Area gives plenty of fun. Since the launching there’s always some Event going on and to top    Honestly, I don’t understand the Pokémon fandom sometimes. Pokémon Sword and Shield only flaw is a short history, that they are completing with two DLC costing half the price of a game, so even without the second half, is already the best Pokémon Game for me.
    The soundtrack is delicious. The Wild Area gives plenty of fun. Since the launching there’s always some Event going on and to top all that they created one of the most fluids breeding mechanic in the game.
    I would only wish that they would patch the chain method for shinies. Other than that, great way to start the main series in a new console.    … Expand
  14. Gastly67
    Jul 19, 2020
    10
    Compre este para tenerlo en la coleccion, sufre lo mismo que el de Pokémon Sword, pero sigue siendo buen juego para los fans dee pokémon
  15. opnyx
    Jan 16, 2021
    8
    I loved playing this game. The story is great in my opinion. All the competition background is awesome, there's a lot of customizations features for your character, and the battles in arenas are epic.
    But I was disappointed with the graphics, which look quite poor for a Switch game, and also by the basic Pokémon animations.
    Very nice experience though.
  16. Castdeath97
    Nov 22, 2021
    9
    Yet another Pokemon game that I don't get the fuss on. Seems good to me.

    - The characters are the best since a very long while, and seem to have more personality in them compared to previous entries, I find it surprising people didn't like them. - Graphics as ok to good, not exactly anything special then again not something most people in this genre care much about. - The music is    Yet another Pokemon game that I don't get the fuss on. Seems good to me.

    - The characters are the best since a very long while, and seem to have more personality in them compared to previous entries, I find it surprising people didn't like them.

    - Graphics as ok to good, not exactly anything special then again not something most people in this genre care much about.

    - The music is top notch and excellent.

    - Absolutely love being able to play with and pet pokemons

    So yet again, I'm kinda baffled here with the fuss. I don't think it's even just dexit since a lot of reviewers here didn't warm up to the characters as much as I did, then again it could just be indirect.    … Expand
  17. Balearikus
    Nov 22, 2021
    8
    A very ambitious game in its project not executed in the best way.

    With a beautiful style, which seems to be an anime, and a completely 3d world with many details, we began this adventure in galar, we began this adventure very easily that for me I enjoyed it visually to the fullest, the story was something simple but very happy comment my adventure with scorbunny and I could easily move    A very ambitious game in its project not executed in the best way.

    With a beautiful style, which seems to be an anime, and a completely 3d world with many details, we began this adventure in galar, we began this adventure very easily that for me I enjoyed it visually to the fullest, the story was something simple but very happy comment my adventure with scorbunny and I could easily move forward without problems, when I got to the wild area I found one of my greatest joys in a pokemon game, and I enjoyed a lot and let the wild area be enjoyed, although to see it enjoyed in real time online with the other players and interacting would have been perfect. The team yell is a joke in bad taste as antagonists, and the game completely misses no serious enemies in the game or that events or adventures happen missing the great and beautiful recreated map. Also with errors such as the pokedex or things that are too recycled, but the game is nice and good to play, but its difficulty leaves something more to be desired.

    Graphics 9/10
    Music 9/10
    Gameplay 8/10
    Duration 7/10
    History 7/10
    Difficulty 6/10    … Expand
  18. TatuTatu
    Dec 6, 2021
    8
    The gane is pretty good for casual players and if you want a hard game, this game is not for you, some points at the story are not the best and the pokedex cut is a little bit sad, but some other things like music and character design are amazing here and overall the game is fun, and the dialog is not as annoying as people say, even is less annoying that it is in black and white.
  19. shw079
    Feb 4, 2022
    8
    It is an good Pokemon game. Nevertheless, the plot is non-existent, battles are way too easy, and the expansion pack is a rip off (expensive but only few new content).
  20. Gius92
    Jan 25, 2021
    10
    I love it. This game absolutely does not deserve all the hate it has received.
  21. BaconPancakes
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    I pretty much hate everything after Ruby. This game is definitely going in the right direction. Depending on your playstyle you can drop a lot of hours into Shield.
  22. Drakko03
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    Realmente un buen juego y nada de 0 ni 4. Con todo respeto a sus opiniones pero es un juego de 10 o 9 y yo en mi caso le doy 10
  23. GCDeadshot
    Nov 15, 2022
    10
    I love Hop sooo much, he's my favourite rival, his whole character is heart breaking and his theme makes me really happy!
  24. Lapi002
    Dec 28, 2021
    8
    Pokemon Shield was my first console game and the reason why I wanted to have the Switch Lite, the Zacian edition, and the Zamazenta. Generally, Pokemon games come with a demo to see how good it is.
    The game isnt bad as haters describe it and there were so many videos criticizing it for the same reasons: the graphics. Viejo, if you want a game with better graphics, buy a PC and go.
    The    Pokemon Shield was my first console game and the reason why I wanted to have the Switch Lite, the Zacian edition, and the Zamazenta. Generally, Pokemon games come with a demo to see how good it is.
    The game isnt bad as haters describe it and there were so many videos criticizing it for the same reasons: the graphics. Viejo, if you want a game with better graphics, buy a PC and go.
    The story could have been a bit more careful, quite lazy and the DLC does not help either. However, it does raise the mark a bit in some scenes with adult connotations.

    My grade will actually be a 7, but it goes up one more point due to the fact that it was my first game on this beautiful console. I understand the point of the subject of the graphics, I am not going to get like the stupid haters, but I think that with the early release of Legends Pokemon Arceus, everything can change.    … Expand
  25. rebuzzi
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    its not as bad as people say, i really enjoyed the game! the new pokemon designs are amazing! im ready for the next generation
  26. SZero2800
    Jul 21, 2021
    9
    Me parece un buen juego, sin embargo no tiene la chispa de aquellos buenos tiempos de Pokémon, como primer Pokémon para las nuevas generaciones de gamers esta increíble, que tengan oportunidad de unirse a una saga tan buena, ya después irán experimentando y jugando los antiguos.
  27. Zumbie101
    May 7, 2022
    8
    Enjoyable game, wild area is fun and the locations look nice and varied. I do find the story gets a but rushed and nonsensical however its pokemon so not exactly playing it for the story.
  28. FireZD
    Jan 3, 2022
    8
    I think the main issues have already been talked about, it's a relatively basic Pokemon game with an ok but not fleshed out gimmick. It doesn't have enough Pokemon featured in the game and the story is meh. But it is a very good game for newcomers to the series, the combat is polished and is overall a great game by itself. The issue comes when it's the same game as the past few entrees.I think the main issues have already been talked about, it's a relatively basic Pokemon game with an ok but not fleshed out gimmick. It doesn't have enough Pokemon featured in the game and the story is meh. But it is a very good game for newcomers to the series, the combat is polished and is overall a great game by itself. The issue comes when it's the same game as the past few entrees. Hopefully, the next game builds upon flawless gameplay groundwork and works towards something new.… Expand
  29. Ardho
    Jul 27, 2022
    8
    its an okay game...........................................................
  30. Darkspawn677
    Jun 4, 2022
    10
    Pokemon sword and shield is good but it should have mega evolution dynamax and z moves in one game and i liked mega evolution more than z moves
  31. TheDonKiotie
    Oct 10, 2021
    10
    When I play this game, let’s just say my “member” stands at “attention”. The graphics, they’re so good, it makes me e ja q l8. The story, it’s ROCK solid, makes me like squawk chicken, COCK if you will. I’m so frequently changing my knickers while playing, my family asks me, “why are your knickers always so frickin crunchy”, to which I reply, “uh….nothing! Shut up, you think you’re dad,When I play this game, let’s just say my “member” stands at “attention”. The graphics, they’re so good, it makes me e ja q l8. The story, it’s ROCK solid, makes me like squawk chicken, COCK if you will. I’m so frequently changing my knickers while playing, my family asks me, “why are your knickers always so frickin crunchy”, to which I reply, “uh….nothing! Shut up, you think you’re dad, but you’re not!”… Expand
  32. Trench666
    Oct 17, 2021
    9
    idk why people hate it so much, best pokemon game IMO,
    best pacing out of any game,
    theres a 3D open area.
    And best location. Britain.
  33. Donkristo
    Nov 10, 2021
    9
    Отличная игра. Все те же покемоны, но с элементами открытого мира. Интересный сюжет, активности, рейды, крупные дополнения.
    Хейт относительно отсутствия national dex абсолютно незаслуженно.
    Минус бал за отсутствие локализации    Отличная игра. Все те же покемоны, но с элементами открытого мира. Интересный сюжет, активности, рейды, крупные дополнения.
    Хейт относительно отсутствия national dex абсолютно незаслуженно.
    Минус бал за отсутствие локализации
  34. Snoob_player
    Nov 14, 2021
    9
    Gratamente mejorable en sus graficos especialmente pero aun con algunas pegas tuvo cosas muy nuevas en la saga y además te proporciona muchas horas de juego si te gusta aprovechar al máximo este tipo de juegos como yo hago que exploro cada rincón.
  35. leo961
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    Best competitive era for Pokemon. Dynamax is probably the most strategic introduction made since B/W era. The ranked battle system keeps you on the screen for hours and the changing of the rules month by month gives the game a longer lifetime.
    Dynamax Adventure is the same.
    The game reports graphics issues, especially in the textures. The single player mode can be perceived as too easy,    Best competitive era for Pokemon. Dynamax is probably the most strategic introduction made since B/W era. The ranked battle system keeps you on the screen for hours and the changing of the rules month by month gives the game a longer lifetime.
    Dynamax Adventure is the same.
    The game reports graphics issues, especially in the textures. The single player mode can be perceived as too easy, especially by the oldest players.
    The true key values which makes this game one of the most funny even 2 years after is the online mode in dynamic adv. and battlespot.    … Expand
  36. Pitohui9441
    Jan 3, 2022
    8
    It has potential. It has so many interesting things about it that make it stand out as a video game, and you kinda of have to consider the innovation here compared to previous pokemon games. Unfortunately, it feels like there wasn't a full commitment to the innovation, and one really has to spend extra for the DLC to fully realize the update. The story itself is too easy and there are noIt has potential. It has so many interesting things about it that make it stand out as a video game, and you kinda of have to consider the innovation here compared to previous pokemon games. Unfortunately, it feels like there wasn't a full commitment to the innovation, and one really has to spend extra for the DLC to fully realize the update. The story itself is too easy and there are no puzzles. Also, because of the collaboration aspect, it's extremely easy to level up, so out with the traditional grind. This game really illuminates the downside of eliminating things that may have once been seen as "frustrating" in previous games, but in actuality, elevate the game. Like not being able to progress to new towns without teaching a compatible pokemon a special move to solve a puzzle (now there are air taxis that take you everywhere). You are now constantly given the ability to quickly go back and revive your team at any time, and your rival will do it for you in many places after every single battle, so you don't even have to strategize before entering a dungeon (they give you an escape rope, but like, why?). While on the surface these can be seen as improvements, they essentially de-mature the game to something that is entirely non-strategic. I am someone, like many others, who has played the pokemon series their entire life, and there are many games that I play for weeks to beat, if i beat them at all before getting tired of it. This game, I beat in 5-6 days including the post-game. So while there are many things that I appreciate about this game, there wasn't quite enough, and I feel that we lost puzzles and strategy to pretty outfits and repetitive collab battles.
    -I do want to add that they do get some points for the Gym Leader Character design. I really loved them all and thought they were all unique and endearing. Except Chairman Rose looks IDENTICAL to Seneca Crane (look it up if you don't know who I'm talking about.    … Expand
  37. ducnam2005
    Jan 10, 2022
    9
    Nice game. Beautiful graphic, nice gameplay and more new pokemon. I really like this game. But the pokedex doesn't have the national dex and this game doesn't has full pokemon too.
  38. Ventu
    Mar 27, 2022
    9
    Pokemon Shield me ha parecido un salto a mejor con respecto a la generación anterior. La nueva región es variada, con una historia entretenida, y los nuevos Pokemon tiene diseños generalmente buenos (aunque algunos de ellos, al igual que las últimas generaciones, rozan lo absurdo). Es cierto que el no poder capturar todos los Pokemon de pasadas generaciones es una decisión más quePokemon Shield me ha parecido un salto a mejor con respecto a la generación anterior. La nueva región es variada, con una historia entretenida, y los nuevos Pokemon tiene diseños generalmente buenos (aunque algunos de ellos, al igual que las últimas generaciones, rozan lo absurdo). Es cierto que el no poder capturar todos los Pokemon de pasadas generaciones es una decisión más que cuestionable. La parte de mundo abierto, me ha parecido que es el enfoque hacia donde debe de orientarse la franquicia, y las nuevas mecánicas de combate me han parecido interesantes. En definitiva, me parece una muy buena generación, siendo un cambio a mejor para el futuro de la franquicia. Muy recomendable.… Expand
  39. AprilLondon
    Feb 28, 2022
    8
    Too bad only for the plot, for the rest I liked it. a classic pokemon title that satisfied me, excellent raids. Beautiful and well crafted DLC
  40. Plinfi
    Mar 2, 2022
    10
    Great game, the new Pokemons are awesome. The graphics are fine the wild area is beautyful. The starters are the best of all generations
  41. kennydog
    Mar 22, 2022
    8
    Another nice addition to the Pokémon game series. Sure, It's kinda short, and the story is godawful, but I liked most of the new Pokémon designs, the gym battles were super exciting, and the wild areas were decent. Overall, it was better than I expected and I liked exploring Galar with my favourite Galarian Pokémon.
  42. Rapeest
    Mar 30, 2022
    10
    This game is probably the best Pokémon game to come in a long time. So many unique pokémon and fun fights will make you forget about the real world.
  43. Nintendist
    Jul 2, 2022
    10
    i love this game. is so good and very very strategic. one of the best games ever
  44. GavinRhodes
    Jul 28, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Pokémon Sword And Shield are the second best Pokémon games in the entire franchise after generation five i love the dynamaxing mechanic and the gigantamaxing. the game has such a cool region with interesting gym leaders and the dex cut is no big deal because the wild area offers a massive varity early on in your adventure when choosing a team for your adventure.… Expand
  45. Imanello777
    Oct 1, 2022
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Game is totally ok but its a little bit too easy, like the trainer battles and the fight against leon. Also its bad that you cant get legendarys (suicune and more) a second time in the crown tundra.… Expand
  46. Reference_Queen
    Oct 6, 2022
    10
    This game is for chill people. It fixes the quality of life problems of previous games & is very easy.
    It's different from the past games, and that's what gets it a lot of bad reviews. It's very easy, it's not balanced for competitive play, the story is mediocre, there's not a ton of available pokemon (looking at Skitty), the postgame is short, and it's easy to complete the entire game in    This game is for chill people. It fixes the quality of life problems of previous games & is very easy.
    It's different from the past games, and that's what gets it a lot of bad reviews. It's very easy, it's not balanced for competitive play, the story is mediocre, there's not a ton of available pokemon (looking at Skitty), the postgame is short, and it's easy to complete the entire game in two weeks. I love all of these things (except the lack of Skitty). This game was designed for children to play and I appreciate that – the first game I ever played was Pokemon White and I still haven't beaten it. Tiny Me got frustrated just trying to find my way to the next gym.
    Sword/Shield fixes everything I hated about the previous Pokemon games, and that's a long list:
    Curry is my favorite feature. Cooking makes it possible to heal your pokemon without using items or a pokemon center, and gives XP. Curry also makes it easy to make your pokemon love you, so friendship evolutions are a LOT easier. Friendship and happiness are combined in this game, so there's no "affection isn't the same as friendship" bullcrap like Sun/Moon. Getting Eeveelutions is a simple process.
    HMs are gone from this world, finally. Flying to a location is just going to the map and clicking where you want to go, and a flying taxi takes you there. A godsend.
    Most pokemon encounters are in the overworld, and caves are no longer the most annoying thing ever! Repels aren't a necessary item anymore.
    The X menu tells you where your next objective is and how to get there, so you can't get lost or forget where you were supposed to go.
    Leveling is very easy and the EXP is automatically distributed throughout your party. Playing with your pokemon is a lot more fun and open, with the ability to throw balls for your Yamper and Legendary; you just can't pet them (this also gives XP which is nice). Dynamax is a fun thing that helps make the game super easy, and raid dens give XP Candies and sometimes Rare Candies, which makes leveling even easier. With XP Candies, you don't have to grind wild pokemon all the time.
    Boxes are accessible from the X Menu wherever you are, and they're much easier to use.
    There are both regular TMs and breakable TRs that are free and purchasable.
    Moves can be deleted and relearned whenever you visit a Pokemon Center.
    Berries are easily acquired but not easily farmable like the Poké Pelago of Sun/Moon.
    It's also fun to customize your character with clothes! Since money is so plentiful, you can pretty much buy everything eventually :D
    This is my personal favorite Pokemon game because it applies to my style of gameplay: "Who wants things to be hard?" I'd recommend SWSH to anyone who disliked previous Pokemon games for being too difficult, people who like messing around after beating the game, and for anyone who wants to play a chill game where nothing threatens you :3    … Expand
  47. plattym3
    Nov 9, 2022
    9
    Had a whole bunch of fun with this title playing alongside my son who was playing the opposite title at the same time. I hear all the complaints, but hey, as someone who's not in for competitive play, I just want to collect fun-looking monsters and win, it was perfectly fine. Could the graphics be better? Sure, but nothing's perfect.
  48. TaniaTucker
    Nov 10, 2022
    10
    A mí me ha gustado. Veo otras críticas que se quejan de los gráficos, pero sí veo un avance. Aún así, sí eres capaz de dejar a un lado eso, el juego es precioso. La historia está bien, me encantan las zonas salvajes, pasé horas y horas buscando pokemons jejeje y los DLC fueron una delicia. Para mí es recomendable
  49. BreadFlavor
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    The absence of all Pokemon is disappointing to fans. But this game is fun. Even without all the Pokemon, I think it's enough to enjoy the game.
  50. Kingjavabean
    Mar 19, 2020
    8
    I really enjoyed this game.
    I love how simple everything was in this new gen of Pokémon.
    I’ve been playing the series for 16 years or so, and this was a refreshing game to play.
    No getting lost, no trying to figure out puzzles.
    It’s a nice simple easy game that is nice to play casually in a beautiful world.
  51. Diesel6401
    Dec 17, 2019
    8
    HONEST REVIEW:

    The game is good, but not great. Lot's of positives, but some mistakes. The story is good, however there is one particular part that had an interesting twist that I hope they would have elaborated on but they didn't. The introduction to the ability to access your storage box without the need of PC is fantastic feature. The build-in experience share is nice bonus, however    HONEST REVIEW:

    The game is good, but not great. Lot's of positives, but some mistakes. The story is good, however there is one particular part that had an interesting twist that I hope they would have elaborated on but they didn't. The introduction to the ability to access your storage box without the need of PC is fantastic feature. The build-in experience share is nice bonus, however I wish there was a option to be able to cycle it on/off. I think that's a feature hardcore fans would have in enjoyed. The open area is simply beautiful. At first it seems overwhelming, but soon you'll find it's not as large as you once thought. The weather mix and raid battles are an added surprise and Gen 8 is a much welcomed upgrade over the stale Gen 7. There's a few misses, the after game content is very short, the open area really bogs down when connected to the internet and a major frustration is when you don't want to the be connected to the internet in-game it essentially puts your entire switch into a suspended airplane mode, meaning games in the background will not update if you are playing this game offline. It really is a mind-boggling issue and extremely frustrating.

    Ultimately if you are Pokemon it's a must play. However it's not as great as we would have hoped for the first mainstay Pokemon game to hit the switch. I think the solution is for TPC is to make the main-series every other year. I think the push to have a main game yearly is beginning to have a negative impact on the games. Mixing in "Let's Go" remakes of past games could possible fill the gap giving added time to put the mainstay games on a 2 year cycle. It's good, but it could have been great.    … Expand
  52. HombreLombre
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    I've enjoyed the game yes it has flaws but is no way near as bad as some reviews have made out . Its a classic Pokémon adventure with a few twists if you like pokemon you'll enjoy this game.
  53. Plibige
    Dec 27, 2019
    8
    Honestly I was expecting a hell of a lot worse. The way people were going on I genuinely thought i would give up on it after a day. Look it's not breath of the wild, and it's not a huge step away from what we have seen in the past. But it's a great game, and I'd imagine any kid would love it if it was their first pokemon game
  54. AV_Lazy
    Dec 31, 2019
    8
    Overall I thought the game was good. It's fun, the wild area is awesome, as a Brit I loved how they changed some of the language and made characters say phrases from England, the Pokemon made were really cool design and origin wise (with a few exceptions of course), the returning Pokemon are diverse and well picked, the soundtrack is amazing and some characters (especially Hop) are writtenOverall I thought the game was good. It's fun, the wild area is awesome, as a Brit I loved how they changed some of the language and made characters say phrases from England, the Pokemon made were really cool design and origin wise (with a few exceptions of course), the returning Pokemon are diverse and well picked, the soundtrack is amazing and some characters (especially Hop) are written really well. The game is actually one of my favourite Pokemon games out there but I do have a few issues with it. The max raid battles are fun but your teammates are really useless the large majority of the time unless you connect with people online, the graphics and animations aren't that consistent with some being breathtaking and some looking like a 12 year old with animation software and half an hour to kill made them, the story is poorly paced towards the end and the game is extremely easy with the EXP share always being on and EXP candies being common to get however this does mean that it is easier to have a team with more that 6 Pokemon and grinding is put to a minimum.

    The game is pretty good but I do find it unfortunate that it has probably the most toxic fandom and most toxic haters around.    … Expand
  55. Shimmeywill
    Mar 10, 2020
    8
    While the plot was lacklustre, the visuals are fun and the character customization is solid. A decent time waster.
  56. jfranklin
    Jan 21, 2020
    8
    This game really gets overly hated on for silly reasons. People care way too much about what they are missing, like the "National Dex," and a really solid Pokemon game that is just as addicting and fun as other entries in the series. The world feels alive, the characters have more depth than I'm used to in pokemon games... I think the rampant negativity is just caused from unrealisticThis game really gets overly hated on for silly reasons. People care way too much about what they are missing, like the "National Dex," and a really solid Pokemon game that is just as addicting and fun as other entries in the series. The world feels alive, the characters have more depth than I'm used to in pokemon games... I think the rampant negativity is just caused from unrealistic expectations.

    Pokemon Sword and Shield is a great time, and more or less exactly what you expect when you get a pokemon game, with small updates to make things more connected. It's no Breath of the Wild, but that doesn't mean it's not still a very solid game.    … Expand
  57. Sin-Dre
    Mar 17, 2020
    8
    game play is amazing. i loved playing the game but i think the game would be better if there was voice acting. the story was good. it could been better with voice acting.
  58. Chuz2589
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    Mejor juego de Pokémon jamás creado.
    Los mejores gráficos y buena historia.
  59. Supermariogames
    Sep 30, 2020
    10
    Great game so far. Enjoying the Galar region, enjoying all the new Pokemon, and looking forward to battling, nuzlocking and raiding.
  60. andoni_galicia
    Dec 10, 2019
    10
    El juego de Pokémon más adictivo de la historia. Cazar, criar, intercambiar y farmear entre otras cosas nunca había sido tan ágil y divertido. Es verdad que el tema de la pokedex es un aspecto negativo, pero se ve más que compensado con la calidad de los modelos y la diversión que proporciona el juego.
  61. VTII
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    Sad to see so many false reviews on here hopefully they get removed because they clearly haven't played the game. There are no graphics issues or bugs. It's the best pokemon game in years. The missing pokemon ended up being small issue then first stated, they weren't missed. Were you really going to breed across a zubat to play the game with there are plenty good new and returning pokemonSad to see so many false reviews on here hopefully they get removed because they clearly haven't played the game. There are no graphics issues or bugs. It's the best pokemon game in years. The missing pokemon ended up being small issue then first stated, they weren't missed. Were you really going to breed across a zubat to play the game with there are plenty good new and returning pokemon to keep the game fun.… Expand
  62. tigermetals
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    TLDR: I've played every Pokemon game so far (except x & y) and this is my favorite one and a step in the right direction for the games. Unlike most of these reviewers, I actually played this game. 8 badges in.

    Pros: New Wild Area gives you access to a whole bunch of pokemon and challenges (optional) upfront in addition to the traditional routes. Quality of Life improvements all over.    TLDR: I've played every Pokemon game so far (except x & y) and this is my favorite one and a step in the right direction for the games. Unlike most of these reviewers, I actually played this game. 8 badges in.

    Pros: New Wild Area gives you access to a whole bunch of pokemon and challenges (optional) upfront in addition to the traditional routes. Quality of Life improvements all over. Raid battles give you excellent rewards. Not grindy. More pokemon available in the main game than ever before. More of the pokemon you want earlier.

    Cons: The game needs voice acting! I would like to see a bigger wild zone with more challenges and options and content.

    Overall: It's a lot of fun and a step in the right direction for the series, I hope they continue in this direction and branch it out further.

    People say the game is easy but remember you can also turn battle style to "set" instead of "switch". and sell your potions and healing items.    … Expand
  63. papyr
    Jan 12, 2020
    8
    please. this game is amazing. not 10/10 amazing but clearly up there. yall just gonna rat it out for having the pat like 85.83% of pokemon missing like ight
  64. Chozo94
    Nov 25, 2019
    8
    Sword and Shield - Hate or Love?

    What makes a Game a good Game? Do graphic matter? We should all ask ourselfs what do we expect from certain products. Think back to the good old time of the N64 or PS1. How do these games look today? Well, still pretty good tbh - but thats mostly nostalgia. Links Awakening (GB) was a pretty good Game aswell. Was it because of the graphics? Most    Sword and Shield - Hate or Love?

    What makes a Game a good Game? Do graphic matter?

    We should all ask ourselfs what do we expect from certain products. Think back to the good old time of the N64 or PS1. How do these games look today? Well, still pretty good tbh - but thats mostly nostalgia. Links Awakening (GB) was a pretty good Game aswell. Was it because of the graphics? Most certainly not.

    A Good Game is a Good Game (or not) judged by everyone individually. Its combined by the feelings you get by playing, no matter if the graphic is good, RPG elements are on top, the combat ist perfect or whatever (I mean cmon, there are people who say OOT is a bad game).

    Now to Sword

    I now completed the Main Story and became the Champ. i pretty much "rushed" thru the game, I never was the biggest fan of "gotta catch em´ all" heck, i never finished a Pokedex. It took me around 16 hours to become the Champ. Now there is a bunch of Post Game. So time investment is pretty good!

    The Graphics
    Oh man the Graphics. How does it look? Pretty good. Its not a AAA titel and im glad about that. How do Nintendo Games look in general? Not really realistic, every (ok almost every) Game has a set and fitting artstyle. And it doesnt matter if the Trees are 4K UHD Trees with seasonal change and individual Leafs. Important is, if at all fits together and looks good, and yes, Pokemon Sword/Shield looks good. Its, as i said, not something u´d need a RTX 2080TI for, but it still looks good.

    Story
    Well, it is a pokemon game after all. I did not expect the biggest plot twist of all time or a Rival who has a personality that keep me awake at night (to be fair, Hop has no Character at all). You start as a small Kid from a small town to become the Champ. Thats basiclly it. There happens a buncha stuff with the dynamaxing at the Legendarys, the big CEO and so on, but the Story is nothing really to talk about. Doesnt sound that fun eh? I still had alot of fun. I dont play Pokemon for the story, i play it for the Pokemon.

    National Dex/ Pokedex

    Oh boi. The national dex. All the pokemon that are not in the Game. For me, i could not care less. You have over 400 Pokemon to choose from, and to be honest with yourself you will only use 3 of them because u dont need more. I have no idea, why this is such a big deal. Its not Pokemon Gold, Emerald, Pearl or Black, its Pokemon Sword/Shield. Its a individual Game with its own rules. Nothing to hate about.

    Difficulty

    Is it a hard game? No. Did my whole team ever fainted and i had to retry anything? No. Why is that you ask? Is it too easy? It is not too easy. And it is maybe because the target group for pokemon are 12 year olds. I am 25. I have played almost every Pokemon game. Of course Pokemon is not a Dark Souls! Its a game designed for kids. Why should it be hard?

    Well, i had lots and lots of fun with pokemon Sword. Im not done yet, still gotta do alot of postgame or Shinyhunt. Would i recommend it? Hell yes, i would.

    Note: English is not my native language, im sorry if this is kinda hard to read. :)    … Expand
  65. Jpedrovianna
    Nov 17, 2019
    8
    The game is not perfect, but definitely not a bad game! I was raised playing pokemon games, since gen 2. It was a bit disappointing not having all pokemons in this game, but the game is still great. I love the new monsters, the new mechanics, the new region. I have not completed the game yet, but so far I’m having a great experience.
  66. Meris
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    This game has some technical issues and the decision to not port every Pokemon into the game is sad, but aside from these issues, the game is quite fun.
    It has several interesting fights in the last quarter of the game and the new Pokemon designs are quite fun.
    It is miles above ORAS, Sun/Moon and UltraSun/UltraMoon. This Gen are a step in the right direction and I hope a possible third    This game has some technical issues and the decision to not port every Pokemon into the game is sad, but aside from these issues, the game is quite fun.
    It has several interesting fights in the last quarter of the game and the new Pokemon designs are quite fun.
    It is miles above ORAS, Sun/Moon and UltraSun/UltraMoon. This Gen are a step in the right direction and I hope a possible third game remake from B/W fixes the technical issues.    … Expand
  67. Link645
    Mar 14, 2020
    8
    this is hard review because this was my first Pokemon game and i thought that it was great when i was younger i loved playing the card game but when i played shield most of my favorites were Pokemon were gone at times i was fairly repetitive but that is Pokemon the games franchise in one word but has good mechanics for younger players but not my type of level.
  68. theangryscapula
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    Ultimately a very fun and immersive Pokemon experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. The new Pokemon designs are stellar, the region is beautiful, and the music is absolutely incredible. While there is still a lot of room to expand in this franchise, and this game has a number of flaws, it's easy to overlook them and enjoy what is in my opinion the most ambitious and utterlyUltimately a very fun and immersive Pokemon experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. The new Pokemon designs are stellar, the region is beautiful, and the music is absolutely incredible. While there is still a lot of room to expand in this franchise, and this game has a number of flaws, it's easy to overlook them and enjoy what is in my opinion the most ambitious and utterly charming entry to date.… Expand
  69. OnyxBolt
    Nov 15, 2019
    8
    Much better than I anticipated, love the online features. Only an 8 because no NatDex
  70. GreenMenace
    Nov 26, 2019
    9
    This game is a Pokemon game, through and through, for better or for worse. I have beaten the game and completed the pokedex. I'll soon check out competitive play because the online play looks promising. I've really enjoyed playing the game.

    Pros Quality of life changes Incredible Customization The Galar Region The Wild Area Cons The story is too short The protagonist is far    This game is a Pokemon game, through and through, for better or for worse. I have beaten the game and completed the pokedex. I'll soon check out competitive play because the online play looks promising. I've really enjoyed playing the game.

    Pros
    Quality of life changes
    Incredible Customization
    The Galar Region
    The Wild Area

    Cons
    The story is too short
    The protagonist is far from likable
    Little innovation
    Missing Pokemon

    I believe that Pokemon Sword and Shield are a step in the right direction, but the game needs a lot more innovation. I thought this game was going to make more changes to the Pokemon formula.
    Traditionally, a lot of people stop playing the game because they've caught all the Pokemon and they've beaten the story. Then they're charged more money to do it again in a different region. If the game shook things up a bit more, in just about any area, then I believe that the games would be even more fun than they are. It gets a bit tiresome to see the standard "battler, breeder, scientist" stereotypes with every character.

    I loved the setting of the Galar region. The theme of Pokemon Sword and Shield were done very well. I enjoyed the new Pokemon. I was happy with the wild area. I wanted to be able to move more freely around it, but the introduction of a wild area is a great start.

    You can access Pokemon from just about anywhere and you get a permanent escape rope. The game is easy, but I wouldn't say it's because of the quality of life improvements. If it bothers players, there is nothing stopping them from choosing to not use them. The customization for the trainer is pretty crazy. I'd never imagined a Pokemon game would enable a player to choose so many unique looks. To be honest, I believe they went overboard on that because I'd rather have improvements to the story than character customization. My primary interest in Pokemon games will always be the Pokemon.

    I found myself rooting against my avatar. I didn't like the vague expressions of wonder it made at everything. The other characters had a reason why they wanted to become Pokemon champion. It felt like my trainer became a Pokemon trainer on a whim. If there is one thing about any pokemon story I'd want to do away with, it'd be the beginning. I understand they want to connect with a lot of people, but I do want a protagonist with a personality. A silent Pokemon trainer is not nearly as cool as a silent Link.

    With the elimination of Pokemon from their games, I will hold Gamefreak to a higher standard. If there are less Pokemon, I want better graphics and a better story. The story in Pokemon Sword and Shield wasn't bad, and I enjoyed Team Yell, but there wasn't enough of it. The graphics in this game are better than any Pokemon game I've played.

    I am glad I purchased this game and I would recommend it because I feel that there is enough content in the game to entertain anyone that loves Pokemon. It's also a game that is very friendly to players who are new to the franchise.    … Expand
  71. PixelChicken
    Nov 18, 2019
    9
    I want to start by saying the only reason this got a 9 instead of a 10 is purely because i believe nothing can be perfect. Pokemon shield (and sword but whatever) is a great game and lives up to the rest of the series easily.

    As the first real entry on console it does a good job showing off how expansive the world can be with the wild area. While this doesn't take up the whole game you    I want to start by saying the only reason this got a 9 instead of a 10 is purely because i believe nothing can be perfect. Pokemon shield (and sword but whatever) is a great game and lives up to the rest of the series easily.

    As the first real entry on console it does a good job showing off how expansive the world can be with the wild area. While this doesn't take up the whole game you can spend hours just wandering around finding things you wouldn't expect, i'm looking at you level 60 pokemon and final evolutions. It actually starts to feel like how the pokemon world is in the anime and i love it.

    People complain about the graphics but honestly if you think graphics are the most important part of a game then i don't think your playing games right.

    There is more i want to say but haven't got time so i'll end with this

    Toby. Fox. Made. Music. For. The. Game

    that's all the convincing i needed    … Expand
  72. SoupSparrow
    Dec 31, 2019
    10
    Just so everyone knows, the negative ratings were from an image board called **** on a board called /vp/ for Pokémon. They're the ones who raided this ratings page over things like the Pokédex, despite never playing it ever.
  73. ZeoN
    Nov 26, 2019
    8
    Puntos positivos:

    - La Banda Sonora es la mejor de la franquicia - Los combates por turnos han alcanzado la excelencia jugable - Las nuevas animaciones están muy bien hechas - La variedad de nuevas criaturas es muy sorprendente - Los estadios son un acierto - La ambientación está muy lograda - El diseño de las ciudades y pueblos es magnífico - El competitivo está muy mejorado al    Puntos positivos:

    - La Banda Sonora es la mejor de la franquicia
    - Los combates por turnos han alcanzado la excelencia jugable
    - Las nuevas animaciones están muy bien hechas
    - La variedad de nuevas criaturas es muy sorprendente
    - Los estadios son un acierto
    - La ambientación está muy lograda
    - El diseño de las ciudades y pueblos es magnífico
    - El competitivo está muy mejorado al igual que la crianza
    - Los personajes tienen historias propias y están muy caracterizados y desarrollados
    - Mucho carisma en los personajes secundarios
    - La Liga Pokémon es la mejor de la franquicia
    - Los líderes de gimnasio tienen el mejor desarrollo argumental de la saga junto a la 5° Gen
    - La mecánica Dynamax y Gigamax está muy lograda
    - El Área Silvestre sienta las bases del prometedor futuro de Pokémon
    - El diseño estructural de la región es bastante decente
    - La variedad de Poke Balls introducidas en el juego se agradece

    Puntos negativos:

    - El Área Silvestre aunque es buena y la idea funciona estupendamente, le falta por mejorar en varios aspectos en futuras en entregas
    - Algunas rutas clásicas son algo lineales
    - ¿Dónde están las cuevas Game Freak?
    - Caídas de FPS puntuales en el Área Silvestre
    - Animaciones mejorables en algunos ataques y personajes
    - La historia principal empieza algo tarde
    - El juego se hace demasiado fácil en algunos puntos debido al exceso de nivel que puedes llevar por estar mucho tiempo en el Área. Eso hay que equilibrarlo de alguna forma.

    Observaciones Personales:

    - Bastante interesante la trama, aunque empiece tarde, está a la altura.
    - El Post Game está bien, pero podrían haberlo estirado un poco más, daba para ello
    - Me alegra el cariño que le han dado al competitivo
    - Paul es el mejor rival de la franquicia

    - Y Lionnel de los mejores campeones. El carisma de ambos es enorme

    Valoración:

    Banda Sonora ➡️ 100/100
    Jugabilidad ➡️ 100/100
    Apartado técnico ➡️ 75/100
    Apartado artístico ➡️ 90/100
    Historia ➡️ 80/100
    Online ➡️ 80/100. Muy trabajado pero la conex va mal a veces

    NOTA ➡️ 88/100

    Es el mejor juego de la franquicia Pokémon desde el salto al 3D. No llega al sobresaliente porque sus fallos se ven, pero lo recomiendo mucho para los amantes de la saga y también al nuevo público. Es una muy buena entrega.    … Expand
  74. GenkiYokota
    Jan 27, 2022
    10
    One of the best modern generations of Pokémon, much better than the distant and mythical X and Y.
    Unfairly criticized, the video game press did appreciate the game. Since it has a great story, a very varied and fun world to explore, as well as one of the best multiplayer ever seen.
  75. Kacek1996
    Nov 28, 2019
    8
    I did take a few days off from finishing the game and writing this review to rethink it as well as I could.

    First thing first, I know that the opinions on this game will be different and kind of random, but mine will be written without thinking about others, just my experience with Pokemon Shield. It is bad that Game Freak lied about some things (looking at the list...), but overall    I did take a few days off from finishing the game and writing this review to rethink it as well as I could.

    First thing first, I know that the opinions on this game will be different and kind of random, but mine will be written without thinking about others, just my experience with Pokemon Shield.

    It is bad that Game Freak lied about some things (looking at the list...), but overall I did enjoy this game a lot.

    Starting with bad things:
    - For me it's truly sad that they added questions like "are you ready to battle me?" before nearly every rival fight and some more. I liked these challenges of unexpected battles, but now if I thought "nah, mate", I backed a little to heal, and then fought the fight,
    - Plot and script was kind of lame, but what should we expect from the child game...,
    - I dislike that baddies/villains apologize for their crimes,
    - The one and only f*****g tree model,
    - Post game/legendary quest was kind of lame, but Hop was reclaimed there in my eyes.

    Now some good things:
    + Gyms (especially Water, Ice, Dark and Dragon type gyms). Water and ice types were just like in the old days, puzzle mixed with battles (MARVELOUS). Also, I liked dark and dragon gyms, since they were pure fights only,
    + I like designs of so many new pokemons from gen 8 (Dragapult, Corviknight, Inteleon, Appletun, Hatterene, Centiskorch were in my team),
    + Wild area is a cool concept,
    + I like this game for giving us overworld and random encounters.

    Some things I want to address:
    a) dynamax in gym battles and league was a 'meh' mechanic for me (I played without it). I'm using it only in wild in raid battles,
    b) About the controversial national dex, I was kind of sad that some of my favs were cut, but damn... I expected them to give us a game with less than half of all pokemons xD
    c) Starters are too humanoid for me, but overall Inteleon won a place in my team.

    I'm planing to finish my pokedex and do some shiny hunting/breeding for the pokemons I do like a lot. Also, Nessa, Allister and Raihan as well as Shield (girl protagonist) have a really cool designs.    … Expand
  76. hacazevedo
    Dec 17, 2019
    10
    Best game in the world. Great RPG, good cutscenes, I loved the new Pokémon. Congratulations to Game Freak for the game. One of the best I've ever played on the switch. Recommended
  77. ToughFluffs
    Nov 24, 2019
    8
    Let me be frank here: I made an account specifically to review this game, just because I know the hate this game is getting. I agree and disagree with various criticisms, and I'm gonna try to hit as much as I can here. Let's start with cons, as it never hurts to touch on the bad before getting to the good.

    Cons: -Pokemon creativity You've already heard this one. I don't consider    Let me be frank here: I made an account specifically to review this game, just because I know the hate this game is getting. I agree and disagree with various criticisms, and I'm gonna try to hit as much as I can here. Let's start with cons, as it never hurts to touch on the bad before getting to the good.

    Cons:

    -Pokemon creativity
    You've already heard this one. I don't consider this a big con though. We've been getting less new Pokemon with each new generation. Naturally, when you've made well over 600 pokemon, there become less and less things to model them after. I think in some senses, there should be less focus on trying to continually make new pokemon, and shift more towards a focus on new and innovative gameplay (which they did do! We'll talk about that later though). I think we have enough pokemon. We're good fellas.

    -Story
    I'm not gonna spoil anything here, but the main story IS rather short and doesn't contain a lot of depth. With previous games, you had these huge, dramatic stories that you were pretty deeply involved in throughout most of the game, between gyms and traveling. This definitely didn't feel like it was on the same level as many previous gens, particularly if you look at the stories in gens 4 and 5 (Which I personally think were some of the most fleshed out narratives of almost any pokemon games).

    -Postgame
    Hopefully they add more to this. Given we're in the age of digital download and cloud storage, it's much easier to add new things to games and push it out to the entire audience at once, and I assume this may be the plan with SwSh, however that wasn't really as much the case with Sun/Moon, which also had the same access. Given it is a full-fledged console game though, I feel there may be more incentive to do so, and that could definitely raise this score to a 9 if that were the case.

    Any other cons I had were minor gripes, ones that I don't personally believe need their own section. On that note, time to launch into the pros.

    Pros:

    Gameplay:
    This game felt...GOOD. Movement was smooth, it has all the staples that you expect from pokemon. You know what you expect going into a pokemon game, and you got it. The dynamaxing/gigantamaxing mechanic is fun, although it does feel a little pointless/less useful compared to past mechanics like Mega-evolution. The removal of HMs a few gens ago is still in place and I'm super glad, as it no longer forces you to have one useless HM slave pokemon in your party.
    I'm also a huge fan of the ability to open your pc boxes pretty much anywhere. Small quality of life thing, but it can make a big difference for those of us who are more...forgetful, to put it nicely.

    Environment:
    This game is gorgeous. It manages to pull off the free-roam 3d environment while not taking away from the feeling of playing a pokemon game. A few of the camera angles in the more linear segments can be a little wonky, but you have to ability to move the camera in the larger, central free roam area, and I had no issues with it there. It's also a lovely little touch that you can see the pokemon. There's less running through grass praying you find the one pokemon you want in a wild encounter, which cuts down on some of the grindiness in previous games. It also seems to run pretty much fine. I very rarely ever experienced frame drops (I did get a few in battles, but rarely on the overworld).

    -New features
    Pokemon camps are GREAT. Seems like an improved version of pokemon ami from gen 6. It's lovely to be able to play around with your party, and the food making system is very reminiscent of the poffin machines from gen 4. It's a fun little minigame and a good way to kill time or play with people online. I think this category is lacking slightly, but I'll talk a little bit more about this when I wrap things up.

    -Music
    The ambient music in this is already fantastic, and while I wouldn't say this is by any means as good as the soundtrack we got in gens 3 or 4, it's got some hot tunes in it. Particularly the Gym leader theme, where you can hear the crowd chanting, adds an extra level of immersion that truly helps bring things together.

    Wrap up time!
    Yeah, the game isn't perfect. It's lacking in multiple areas, but the way I see it, this was a test-run from Nintendo. A way of saying "We know this is what you want, but it's also new territory for us." For what it is, it's wonderful. It's still pokemon, and you're still gonna get a fun pokemon experience out of it.
    I think the one big issue with it, that keeps it at an 8 for me, is definitely the lack of postgame content currently, and in general for the past few generations. I've played every generation so far, but 4 will always stick out because of the ability to keep playing for hundreds of hours after the main story ended with contests, the underground, secret bases, and etc. keeping the game interesting.
    With all that said, still a good game, and I had a lot of fun with it.    … Expand
  78. Eleonor1
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    I’m loving it so far! It looks beautiful to me, it feels like a really good Pokemon adventure, solid like sun & moon. Some tweaks I really like are the option to turn off nicknames, more chances to change moves, no bean farm so far... everything feels more updated with the times. I think it might be hard to return to previous instalments after this one as it’s quite a bit smoother overall.I’m loving it so far! It looks beautiful to me, it feels like a really good Pokemon adventure, solid like sun & moon. Some tweaks I really like are the option to turn off nicknames, more chances to change moves, no bean farm so far... everything feels more updated with the times. I think it might be hard to return to previous instalments after this one as it’s quite a bit smoother overall. I’m really excited and savouring every moment. I don’t think the low user score is an accurate representation of how fun this game is, but more like a protest for dexit. If you’ve never played Pokemon before, you’ll love it! I’ve played all previous generations and I love this one so far, but I never cared particularly for the trade aspect, I always found it cumbersome. I understand if you were truly expecting all previous Pokemon to be in this game, that that aspect disappointed you, but the game is still awesome either way. Don’t miss out on this excellent Switch game!… Expand
  79. Sirotik
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Simply the best Pokémon game I've played, the pokedex is a non important detail, the game is marvelous and the landscapes are really beautiful.
  80. Death_ball13
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Absolutely love the open world mix between old and new school Pokémon the game mechanics and handling are amazing this has made me fall back in love with Pokémon after the fault of ultra sun and moon. Graphics are great love the camping and the raids aswell
  81. B4bs
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    I'm 11 hours in and beat the third gym and damn I'm having a lot of fun, it's the first pokemon game i play since black and white 2 and i'm having a blast! Really glad i bought a switch this year
  82. DrMalign
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Buen juego. Ya era hora de un Pokémon de nueva generación. Un must en toda regla.
  83. LJavier91
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Buen juego con muy buenos graficos y una gran historia y variedad de Pokémon en las diferentes zonas
  84. JoyousOblivion
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    Please ignore the trolls who are low-rating this game. This is by far my favourite pokemon experience in 20+ years. The game plays amazing, the battle look amazing, the interface is slick and works well. Not having all 1.6 million Pokémon in the game is really laughable to me as I have no need to catch/transfer them all to each game I play. This game is really just a lot of fun and a treatPlease ignore the trolls who are low-rating this game. This is by far my favourite pokemon experience in 20+ years. The game plays amazing, the battle look amazing, the interface is slick and works well. Not having all 1.6 million Pokémon in the game is really laughable to me as I have no need to catch/transfer them all to each game I play. This game is really just a lot of fun and a treat to play Pokémon in a true 3D experience on my TV instead of my Game Boy/DS/3DS.… Expand
  85. FlaviaHolanda
    Dec 1, 2019
    10
    É tudo que um fã de Pokémon poderia esperar, com gráficos lindos e uma boa história. Amei!
  86. WizardChamp
    Dec 3, 2019
    10
    First to adress the elephant in the room, the visuals contain a lot of reused 3DS assets and unoptimized loading for the Switch. This game isn't overly visually stunning but it's if you approach it as a handheld game built for a home console by people who have little experience with optimizing the hardware, it's alright. Second, no not all the Pokémon are in the game but technically youFirst to adress the elephant in the room, the visuals contain a lot of reused 3DS assets and unoptimized loading for the Switch. This game isn't overly visually stunning but it's if you approach it as a handheld game built for a home console by people who have little experience with optimizing the hardware, it's alright. Second, no not all the Pokémon are in the game but technically you couldn't obtain them all in previous games either without transferring them from older games, it's fine, we still have about 400 Pokémon. The story echoes the traditional Pokémon plot structure 8 gyms, beat your rival(s), beat the team of miscreants that get in your way, and make your way to the Pokémon league. There's been 8 versions of this story prior with a few changes and adjustments (not counting retellings), it's just how Pokémon is. That being said the minor adjustments in Sword and Shield really echo some of the best past versions of it with some really neat and interesting twists, don't expect Shakespeare but if you liked past Pokémon stories you will like this one. The region the game is set in, Galar, is based on England and is probably going to be one of my favorite regions looking back. Most of the game takes place in one large connected segment of the region which honestly brings me back to games before the 6th and 7th generation of Pokémon on 3DS, and the Wild Area just adds to this connected feel (of course don't expect to have access to everything all at once, blocked off areas do open up as you go as in any other Pokémon game, and the beginning and ending segments have their own areas you won't be spending as much time in). As for the Pokémon themselves the game has a fine Pokémon selection including a bunch of new Pokémon and Galarian forms of old ones I absolutely love. The gameplay keeps the soul of the series while also offering some great stream lining and plenty of improvements, including some brought over from last years' Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee. I love the dynamax concept as a whole especially how it gives the feeling of unique and special Pokémon battles to wild non-story based encounters and just adds plenty of room to create new kinds of encounters as a whole. I finished the main story very over leveled but a post game encounter showed me that I could still improve so it's never too easy, just more accessible to everyone. In short despite the shortcomings Sword and Shield has improved where I think it matters most and offers excellent gameplay and story (for a Pokémon game's story) and has easily become one of my favorites in the series. I give Pokémon Sword and Shield a 10 out of 10.… Expand
  87. Daitya
    Dec 8, 2019
    10
    Como todo juego de la saga Pokémon es un buen juego. Nuevas criaturas, batallas, la magia de empezar de nuevo en una nueva región, una nueva cultura regional y personajes, una banda sonora impresionante... Pero también nos encontraremos con numerosos fallos como... Ciudades un poco monótonas, el recorte de Pokémon(que espero que metan un DLC para compensar), la falta de libertad delComo todo juego de la saga Pokémon es un buen juego. Nuevas criaturas, batallas, la magia de empezar de nuevo en una nueva región, una nueva cultura regional y personajes, una banda sonora impresionante... Pero también nos encontraremos con numerosos fallos como... Ciudades un poco monótonas, el recorte de Pokémon(que espero que metan un DLC para compensar), la falta de libertad del principio o la escasez de postgame.

    Lionel, el campeón de Galar se ve más humano y actúa como tal, además de ser querido y conocido por todos los habitantes. Me gusta su expresión al perder(aunque me da un poco de pena combatir contra él XD). Eso sí, este personaje fue el único que me derrotó y me superaba en nivel.

    Para terminar me gustaría destacar la toxicidad de la comunidad de Pokémon. Una comunidad tan tóxica que no puede disfrutar de un juego de su saga favorita y prefieren insultar y amenazar de muerte a Game Freak porque no se sienten satisfechos con el juego(o al menos es lo que dicen). También deberíamos apreciar la otra posición donde se ponen como locos cuando hacen una crítica a su juego favorito.

    Conclusión para ambas opiniones de ardidos y amargados: Disfrutad del juego y pasad de vuestro "Orgullo Pokémon" parecéis una secta. Es un juego y ya está, no han matado a vuestros padres. Como cada juego tiene sus puntos fuertes y sus puntos débiles y ya está. Eso sí, estáis en vuestro derecho a decir que el juego está "incompleto" o que podrían haber hecho algo mejor... Pero hacedlo sin insultar y con un punto de vista neutral, que hay cada crítica destructiva que no tiene sentido.    … Expand
  88. Kamicarze
    Dec 8, 2019
    10
    Very good game, fantastic pokemon and very good story line with the openworld play
  89. Nobuemon
    Dec 8, 2019
    10
    This game is great even without the National Pokedex (I miss Oshawottt tho)
  90. Dadde202
    Dec 19, 2019
    10
    I hate that the people give 0 to a game that isn't perfect but is really good. I'm not a fan pokemon (I have finished(i have played also other games) only let's go, diamond, pokepark and tornament) and I enjoied the game, also more than other chapter, so i give 10 because if you didn't like a game, you can give 6 or 5 but not 0
  91. Rafft
    Apr 24, 2020
    10
    I have much Fun when i play this game and i dont need a National dex to Like Pokemon Shield my Team is good but i have Problems to fight the Champ because i am underlevelt. I have no lags or bucks.
  92. Gen3Backpack
    Jun 16, 2020
    10
    It's called Pokemon Shield, because ever since buying the game I've had to shield my eyes from the amount of Dynamax porn that evolved from the feted dungheap of a Trubbish we call the internet- Granted unless its foot stuff, I love me the foot stuff~ What was I on about? Oh yeah.
    **** you Game Freak, **** you for making a game so good its absorbed my best friends into itself like a    It's called Pokemon Shield, because ever since buying the game I've had to shield my eyes from the amount of Dynamax porn that evolved from the feted dungheap of a Trubbish we call the internet- Granted unless its foot stuff, I love me the foot stuff~ What was I on about? Oh yeah.
    **** you Game Freak, **** you for making a game so good its absorbed my best friends into itself like a gelatinous cube. **** you for sucking me in too! As I type this, the game has dissolved my lower body into itself- I can only manage to post this with one hand now. The JoyCons are calling to me, speaking of an Armor Island DLC. I won't make it... The game is taking me. Bestie, if you're reading this I'm sorry I couldn't save you from the Sword version, I'll join you soon. Anyone out there looking to purchase this monster...

    Feel free, totes worth it~ Pikachu killed Jesus    … Expand
  93. A-Kratonos
    May 2, 2021
    10
    Un juego sumamente infravalorado y cuyas virtudes han sido invisibilizadas por un fandom furioso, únicamente por razones externas al juego, así como completamente ajenas a su calidad.
    Galar es una región simplemente hermosa que representa una cara idealizada del Reino Unido, los personajes son carismáticos, la historia es bastante decente, y el combate es divino en cada sentido.
    El    Un juego sumamente infravalorado y cuyas virtudes han sido invisibilizadas por un fandom furioso, únicamente por razones externas al juego, así como completamente ajenas a su calidad.
    Galar es una región simplemente hermosa que representa una cara idealizada del Reino Unido, los personajes son carismáticos, la historia es bastante decente, y el combate es divino en cada sentido.

    El Gigamax es la mecánica estrella del juego y donde se cimenta todo combate importante, y la forma de representar las batallas de liga como estadios de futbol es un gran acierto.
    Musicalmente es precioso, artísticamente ni se diga. Y explorar las llanuras de Galar para atrapar pokémon es de las mejores experiencias que he tenido con un juego de la saga principal.    … Expand
  94. Skyplayer1507
    Sep 3, 2021
    8
    very good..................................................................
  95. I_Trust_In_GF
    Jan 29, 2022
    10
    Beautiful and precious, is the only way to describe the Galar region
    User evaluations in general give a very distorted view of this game. It really very fun and ideal for hanging out with the childrens.
  96. LauritsAM
    Feb 19, 2022
    8
    I kinda love this game! :)
    Over all my experience with this game was fantastic
    for what we got, Im actually satisfied.
    The DLC add up was a new fresh update the game was in hunger for, when the post-game was weak
  97. Traskb7
    Nov 17, 2019
    9
    Love this game! Its amazing! Its super fun! So far my only problem is the online is a little glitchy at the moment
  98. Somerandomguy2
    Nov 15, 2019
    8
    All i have to say is while some of the criticisms are valid i still had a blast and haven't had any issues.
  99. RYSCO
    Nov 21, 2019
    10
    Just say I think it's a great game. I don't usually follow pokemon games, but I think it's a very good and entertaining game. It has hooked me and I love that there are few pokemons and not the string of pokemons that there is ... is a hook... Recommended... Although I see a lot of hater that I would have to play... And many people who do not know how to value the games for their fun andJust say I think it's a great game. I don't usually follow pokemon games, but I think it's a very good and entertaining game. It has hooked me and I love that there are few pokemons and not the string of pokemons that there is ... is a hook... Recommended... Although I see a lot of hater that I would have to play... And many people who do not know how to value the games for their fun and their hours of fun that I carry few and I can say that I find a good game ... entertaining, fun and has me hooked ...… Expand
  100. Will2000
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    A great game. The low score is completely undeserved and is the result of "fans" angry at it over the fact you can't transfer old Pokemon over. I have no idea what people are talking about with low play times, I'm 7 hours in and have only just beaten the first gym. The graphics are a massive improvement over previous installments to the Pokemon franchise.
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Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best Switch Game of 2019
3
#3 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 89 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 89
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 89
  3. Negative: 0 out of 89
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 30, 2020
    90
    Sword & Shield have a lot to love for old and new fans, and they're pure quality from top to bottom. [Issue #44 – January/February 2020, p. 72]
  2. GameCritics
    Feb 6, 2020
    75
    I enjoyed my time with Pokemon Sword and Shield, but I ended feeling conflicted. I appreciate many of the changes and felt that it generally respected my time, but I almost felt like a passive participant. The more complex gym challenges had a meatier role, but the narrative shouldn’t have been shoved to the side. Overall, I would recommend it to players who want to have a Pokemon experience, but this one won’t stick with me the way the older ones have.
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  3. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Jan 14, 2020
    78
    Pokemon Sword/Shield is uncharacteristically user-friendly: now there’s no need to backtrack half across the world to heal your entire team of pokemon or to get to a particular city, for example. [Issue#242, p.66]
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